— George Nikolaidis, EEF
Manufacturing activity in Britain slowed unexpectedly last month, a private survey showed on Monday. Markit report showed that its PMI for the UK manufacturing sector came in at 54.3 points in June, falling to a three-month low from a downwardly-revised figure of 56.3 in the preceding month. However, analysts expected a smaller decline to 56.4 for the month from May's originally reported 56.7. Growth of the country's manufacturing output slowed as businesses showed smaller increases in demand for new domestic orders, while export orders marked the weakest pace of growth in five months. Though, some economists expect the UK economy to show stronger growth in the Q2 with stronger competitiveness boosted by the weak Sterling. However, export orders are set to put downward pressures on further economic expansion. Meanwhile, overall confidence weakened to a seven-month low amid the beginning of the Brexit talks and more uncertainties surrounding the UK outlook. Opposite to Britain's faltering manufacturing sector, manufacturing activity in other EU countries rose to its highest level in six years in June.
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